Alford Reintroduces Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act

For Immediate Release February 26, 2025 Contacts: William Barry Lauren Hanneman Tianna Brooks Washington, DC — Ahead of today’s House Small Business Committee hearing , Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations, reintroduced the Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act . This legislation requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) expand its outreach in rural communities to enhance access to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. “For too long, middle America has been left high and dry with limited access to federal programs like SBIR and STTR,” said Congressman Alford. “The Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act will give rural small businesses, including those in Missouri’s fourth district, greater opportunities to access these vital funding programs. I’m proud to once again lead this important bill to support rural innovators and entrepreneurs.” “ America’s rural communities are often left underserved by the federal government,” said House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (TX-25) . “Rep. Alford’s Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act will improve the outreach to rural communities and ensure that all small businesses are given the opportunity to compete for valuable federal contracts and force the federal government to include rural Americans in SBIR and STTR programs.” Read the full text of the legislation here . Background : The SBIR and STTR programs invest $4 billion into an average of 4,000 American small businesses and startups annually, while the government takes no equity or intellectual property for those investments. Currently, the overwhelming majority of the SBA outreach workshops occur in the traditional private investment areas in the east and west coasts. The Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act requires the SBA to expand its outreach in rural communities, helping small businesses in middle America access critical funding from these programs. ###